EFFECT OF CATHODAL TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION OVER AN ANTAGONISTIC CO-ACTIVATION DURING AN ISOKINETIC PROTOCOL

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (t-DCS) over an antagonistic co-activation of lower limbs muscles during isokinetic exercise. We analyzed the results of isokinetic exercise for dominant leg knee’s extensors and flexors muscles during concentric-concentric protocol after cathodal and sham t-DCS. Seven healthy right-handed volunteers took part at the study. The cathodal current is an reducer of motor cortex excitability. Only three of the seven volunteers presented the expected behavior after t-DCS cathodal stimulation, in at least one phase. The findings of this study suggest that the effect of t-DCS cathodal on the muscular co-activation, remains unclear especially because the mechanisms underlying the stimulation of each cortical area are still unknown.